Electric switch lock for automobiles



Sept. 9 1924.

C. W. MITCHELL ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK `FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 7, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l C. W. MITCHELL ELECTRIC swITcH LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES Sept. 9, 1924.

Filed Dec. 7, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 'NIIIIIIIIIIINHIIII'III sept. 9. 1924. 1,507,785

C. W. MITCHELL ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK FDR AUTOMOBILES Fild Dee. ff, 1922v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 9, 1.924.

V 'up1\,u` 'r'IEl'j7N STATES CHARLES W. MITCHELL, or NASHVILLE,;'1E1'\T-1\IEssEE. l i

, ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCKv FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Applicationledbecember 7,;1922.v Serial No. 605,452.

hereby declare the following to bea full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willv enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto makeand usev the same.

The present inventionhas forits object to safeguard automobiles. and motor vehicles having a motiveplant embodying an electric ignition system so as to prevent theft and unauthorized use of the vehiole.

In accordance with the'v present invention, a key operated switch 'is provided and interposed in the various circuits whereby in one position of the movablefswitch member certain controlling circuits arebroken, thereby preventing the starting :and the functioning of the engine, and whereby in another position said circuits are closed, thereby admitting of the starting and the operation of the enginein they usual way.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

IVhile the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from .the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application,

Figure 1 is a front view of a switch lock embodying the invention, y i

Figure 2 is a side view with the near side of the casing omitted,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a rear view.k

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and desig nated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The switch lock comprises a casing 1 which is preferably of metal and of rectangular structure and having a front extension 2j designedtobe let into an opening formed in the: instrument .board when vthe device is in operative position.y Strips Svof insulating material are letvfinto opposite 'side wallsofthe casing and support guide rods 4 andzswitch sockets5 to= which thel wireslofthe several. circuits connect. A`

switch member 6 of` insulating Amaterial is slidably mounted upon the guide 'rods 4 and is provided at .oppositev sides with` switch plugs-U7 `for cooperation withpfthe several` lswitch sockets 5. A metal pi'nj-Sis letinto they switch member 6 and cooperates. with,

the slotted, end 9 of a toothed segment l1Q, said slotted end 9 passing throughanopening formed in the member 6. '.The toothed segment 10 is mounted v upon allshaft 111\ which is supported in opposite end walls of the casing 1. A.vpinion13,provided onth'e shaft 12 lis ininesh `with ,thetoothed segment .1 0V and operates the.` latter to effect a1 shifting of the switch' member 6, whereby to break certain circuits vand establish certain V I other circuits. A key operated spindle 14 is mounted in the front extension 2 of the rection, the shaft 12 is correspondingly lrotated, thereby effecting a lateral movement of the switch member 6 with the result kherein stated. A cable 15 passes through an opening 16 in the rear wall of the casing 1 and the several strands 4are connected to the respective switch plugs 7. Corresponding wires connect with the respective sockets 5 and as a result of this arrangementmove ment of the switch member 6 in one direction closes the circuit at one side and breaks the circuit at the opposite side and upon reversing the switch member 6, the circuits previously broken are closed and those previ# y ously closed are broken. Inasmuch as the switch vcan be` operated only by a special key andl since the switch is disposed in the rear of the instrument board and in such position as not to be readily" tampered with, it will be understood that when the switchis thrown to break the operating circuit, the vehicle cannot be started or operated, hence is protected against: theft and misappropriation.

' A Wire 18 extends to a light, not shown, suitably disposed in the car. A Wire 19 eX- tends to the horn. When thevswitch memcasing and is coupled'to the shaft 12 and 7 'when said spindle '14 is rotated in either di- 'ber 6 is moved to close the circuits includthe usual headlights and the wires 21 to thel f timer or commutator as the case may be according to the character of the ignition system with which the car may be equipped.

What is claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle switch lock including a casing, a key-operable shaft disposed therein, a shaft substantially parallel with said shaft, a gear member on the second shaft driven from the first shaft, a contact member within the casing, means slidably mounting the contact member disposed substantially at aright angle to said shaft, contacts within the casing to coact with the contact member, and a. pin and slot driving connection between the gear member and said contact member.

2. A motor vehicle switch lock comprising a casing, members of insulating material at opposite sides of the casing, switch elements carried x by the said members, a movable switch member of insulating material mounted in the `casing and provided with switch elements to coact with the respective fixed switch elements, a toothed segment for eiiecting lateral movement of the switch member, anda key operated element in cooperative relation with the toothed segment for actu ating the same'. 5

3. A motor vehicle switch lock comprising ymember mounted upon said guides and provided at opposite sides with switch elements electrically insulated from one another and adapted to coact with the respective tixed swi-tch elements, and a key operated niechaism for operating the movable switch mem- 4. A motor vehicle switch lock comprising a casing, ixed switch elements at opposite sides ot' the casing and electrically insulated from one another, transverse guides,a switch member mounted uponsaid guides and provided at opposite sides with switch elements electrically insulated'from one another and adapted to coact with the respective fixed switch elements, a toothed segment pivoted.

within the casing and having an extension engaging the movable switch member, and

a key operated shaftin engagement with the toothed segment for operating the same.

In testimony whereof l atiix my signaturel in presence of'two witnesses.

n CHARLES W. MITCHELL. W'itnesses: .y Y D. R. CARrENTER,"

M. E. CooKLE. 

